Presidential Tech Plans Hampered by Skills, Cybersecurity Issues

With Mexico's upcoming presidential elections on June 2, attention is focused on the candidates' technology proposals and the crucial role of cybersecurity in safeguarding the electoral process. 

The main challenges faced by the candidates include the lack of resources for developing and implementing new technologies, insufficient knowledge and skills, a lag in cybersecurity, and the absence of structural reforms to promote emerging industries. During the campaign period, only 3% of the presidential proposals were related to technology development.

According to the Center for Competitiveness Studies of the Institute for Management Development (IMD), Mexico ranks 54th in the World Ranking of Digital Competence 2023, which evaluates the ability of 64 nations to adopt and explore new digital technologies. 

Additionally, Mexico ranks 61st in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's Frontier Technologies Readiness Index, which assesses 166 economies based on their progress in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), digital skills, Research and Development (R&D), industrial capacity, and finance sectors.

An analysis by The Social Intelligence Unit (CIU) revealed that none of the candidates' proposals constitute a comprehensive digital agenda. "So far, they have only enunciated a series of scattered elements that fall short of constituting the set or universe of priorities of users and the ICT sector," reads the report. 

The study also highlights the need for structured proposals around competition policy in digital markets, creating a public body for comprehensive digital policy achievement, ensuring effective and secure connectivity for ports, railways, and airports, and reviewing spending allocated to ICT, among other issues.

The international context is also significant, especially with the rise of nearshoring, which has been highlighted by the candidates during presidential debates and by various institutions. This trend has positioned Mexico as an attractive market for foreign investment. However, the country's ability to attract and retain investment will largely depend on its technological infrastructure and its capacity to adopt new technologies effectively, meeting the needs and requirements of various companies.

The Candidates' Proposals

Claudia Sheibaum, candidate from the coalition Sigamos Haciendo Historia, has proposed several initiatives to enhance technology in Mexico. These include strengthening telecommunications infrastructure by integrating existing resources and advocating for a General Law of Simplification and Digitalization to streamline government procedures and reduce corruption. 

Sheinbaum also emphasizes institutionalizing the development of technological capabilities across all government levels by creating policies and programs to encourage research, development, and innovation in the technology sector. Her proposals also include creating a national archive to safeguard technological developments from public institutions, making them accessible to the private sector and civil society.

Xóchitl Gálvez, the candidate from the Fuerza y Corazón por México alliance, aims to transform the country's technological infrastructure by creating a digital environment that supports systems development in health, education, and security. 

Gálvez also seeks to expand telecommunications coverage to promote competition and improve Internet access. Her platform includes technological literacy programs to ensure citizens have the necessary skills to utilize technology and proposes a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy to protect citizens' data and privacy.

Jorge Álvarez Máynez, the candidate from Movimiento Ciudadano, has focused his proposals on promoting investment in technology and digitization of government operations. He proposes encouraging public and private investment in telecommunications infrastructure and technology to improve connectivity nationwide. 

Máynez aims to use artificial intelligence to streamline administrative procedures in federal agencies, particularly in the healthcare system, to enhance efficiency and reduce bureaucracy. Additionally, he suggests transforming the National Council of Humanities, Sciences, and Technologies (CONACYT) into an autonomous body and creating a National Observatory of Science, Technology, and Innovation to promote research and development.

Cybersecurity in the Mexican Electoral Process

Over the past year, according to Netscout's DDoS Threat Intelligence Report, Mexico has seen an increase in distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, raising serious concerns about the protection of critical infrastructure and the integrity of the electoral process.

DDoS attacks, designed to overload servers with a massive flow of malicious traffic, have affected several election-related online sites, political parties, and media outlets. These attacks raise concerns about the protection of critical infrastructures and the integrity of the electoral process, as they are used to influence election results by destabilizing the communication and information platforms of candidates, political parties, and even the National Electoral Institute (INE).

INE and online service providers are expected to strengthen their cyber defenses during the electoral process to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and public confidence. "It is necessary for government authorities, electoral bodies and online service providers to work closely together to mitigate the effects of these attacks”, said Jorge Tsuchiya, Regional Director for Mexico, NETSCOUT.